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Denver Lawson's Unusual Modulars (edited by Paula Versnick)

£8.00

Anyone who loves modular works cannot help saying ‘Wow!” when they see Denver’s creations. Many of them remind me of the beautiful shapes that you see in electron micrograph pictures of pollen grains or diatoms. In some of the models there is a lovely fractal effect with modules getting smaller and smaller giving a real ‘organic’ feel to the finished result. I’m sure I am not alone in wanting to try them for myself. This book has been assembled and printed at the insistence of Paula Versnick and is available through her ‘orihouse.com’ website and hopefully some will be available through BOS Supplies soon.

The 16 models diagrammed in the book have been produced by no less than nine different people. The high regard shown for Denver’s work can be seen in the list of names – Dave Brill, Dennis Walker, Hans Dybkyaer, Dave Petty, Michael Naughton, Kenny Dowson, Boaz Shuval, Tung Ken Lam and Paula herself. This gives a kind of ‘Convention Pack’ feel to it as you flick through the different styles. Each model has a short introduction by Paula. Denver has written a brief history explaining how this collection of models came to be made.

For some of the models Denver has invented an ingenious solution to the problem of how to create tabs and pockets to assemble the units. His method is amazingly simple – use 2 pieces of paper at the same time! One of the first models in the book uses this technique with the traditional ‘fortune teller’ – who would have thought that this could be a module?

The models range from ‘simple’ to ‘quite hard’. Although none of the modules are difficult in their own right, the requirement to make all the creases exactly right probably makes this unsuitable for an absolute beginner, but anyone who can fold accurately should be able to get good results. Most of the modules are made from standard sizes of paper, but some are not, so the reader must be prepared to cut their own. If you buy this book you will be eligible to get some cutting guides for some of the non-standard models from Paula’s website.

Even if you normally shun modulars, I would recommend that you try some of the models in this book. But be warned! It may change you forever!

[Review by David Raynor, published in British Origami Magazine 269/August 2011]